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Best bulb choices for 2002 Highlander

Peeked at some of the bulbs in the exterior lighting and can see that at 59,000 miles,some of the original bulbs have darkening on the glass envelopes- looking for info on the best bulbs to replace #7443 tail/brake light bulbs and which 9011 to replace the 9005 highbeam bulbs.Already have the Toshiba 9012HIR installed in the lowbeam position for the last several years.Headlamps are like new as the car has been garaged since brand new and never sat outdoors.

Re: Best bulb choices for 2002 Highlander

Originally Posted by Qship1996

Peeked at some of the bulbs in the exterior lighting and can see that at 59,000 miles,some of the original bulbs have darkening on the glass envelopes- looking for info on the best bulbs to replace #7443 tail/brake light bulbs

Re: Best bulb choices for 2002 Highlander

Thanks Virgil.I saw that GE nighthawk was promoting their 7443 as up to 50% brighter than standard 7443 bulbs- hype or true? I understand the philips 9012 is a improvement over the toshiba,but is it a big enough difference that it makes sense to swap out before the toshibas burn out ?

Re: Best bulb choices for 2002 Highlander

ordered the Philips 9011 bulbs from amazon today.Will hold off on swapping out the Toshiba 9012 bulbs as they probably have only about 100 to 200 hours max run time on them since installed,but this vehicle is now going to be put to daily use so may order the vosla +30 bulbs and store in glovebox for later use.Thanks for the tip!

Re: Best bulb choices for 2002 Highlander

9011 Philips bulbs and GE Nighthawk 7443 bulbs installed,Vosla +30 9012 bulbs on the way.Any way to remove the factory foglights and install something useful in their place,either aux. lowbeams or if not,driving lights????

PS was surprised the factory original highbeam bulbs,with almost 60,000 miles on them were in pretty good shape considering they are used at reduced voltage as DRLs,glass had minimal very light brown staining only on the very tips,and filaments were not ragged

Re: Best bulb choices for 2002 Highlander

Originally Posted by Qship1996

9011 Philips bulbs and GE Nighthawk 7443 bulbs installed,Vosla +30 9012 bulbs on the way.Any way to remove the factory foglights and install something useful in their place,either aux. lowbeams or if not,driving lights?

The fog lamp location is far too low for auxiliary high beams. It may be too low for auxiliary low beams to work very well-- and there's really no reason to have auxiliary low beams if you've got those lamps aimed and fed properly and are going to use +30 9012s.

Re: Best bulb choices for 2002 Highlander

Now I remember just one of the many reasons why I stopped buying GM cars decades ago....not a single GM dealer in the area stocks these Vosla bulbs, and despite placing the order from the online GM vendor Virgil linked to last Friday- they have had zero contact regarding shipping of my order,despite charging my CC seconds after placing the order.We shall see if they even have them in stock tomorrow when I call asking the status of my order!

Re: Best bulb choices for 2002 Highlander

Finally got some news on my bulbs,suppose to arrive next Wednesday......12 days from date of ordering,not impressed with that timetable.Guess if they turn out to show real improvement over the Toshibas I am currently running,I will order a second pair of the Voslas as backups so I have them when needed without the long wait.

Re: Best bulb choices for 2002 Highlander

Vosla +30 9012 bulbs just arrived,they appear to use a true HIR coating I believe because the glass has an iridescent coating on it.Will install soon and report my impressions vs the Toshibas currently in use.

Last edited by Qship1996; 12-16-2015 at 04:26 PM.
Reason: incorrect spelling of brand name Vosla

Re: Best bulb choices for 2002 Highlander

Originally Posted by Qship1996

Vosser +30 9012 bulbs just arrived,they appear to use a true HIR coating I believe because the glass has an iridescent coating on it.Will install soon and report my impressions vs the Toshibas currently in use.

I hope you meant Voslo

Derp-- Vosla!

Last edited by Alaric Darconville; 12-17-2015 at 08:59 AM.
Reason: I mean, Vosla!

Re: Best bulb choices for 2002 Highlander

Re: Best bulb choices for 2002 Highlander

Installed the Vosla +30 9012 bulbs and just came back from a drive on very dark unlit rural roads,honestly cant see any improvement over the old Toshiba 9012 bulbs that were in place before the swap.Granted it was only a 10-12 mile trip,but so far I do not think they are noticeable upgrade?

Re: Best bulb choices for 2002 Highlander

Originally Posted by Qship1996

Granted it was only a 10-12 mile trip,but so far I do not think they are noticeable upgrade?

Yes, so far you do not think they are a noticeable upgrade.

Remember, the +30 means somewhere in the main part of the beam there is 30% more light than before. It's not going to jolt you with how awesome it is-- but it's still an upgrade. Similarly, one could lose a slight amount of light and not really notice that there's less light-- but the difference is there. 30% more or less light is really right around the very bottom of what is perceivable to us. Nonetheless, you're getting more light where it's needed.

Re: Best bulb choices for 2002 Highlander

Vosla claims their H13 #27692 and HB4 # 28613 with the nice blue tint gives whiter light.
Maybe the +30 is true, but every company is tempted to extend their claims just a little.
Vosla does make some rugged bulbs for tractors and dirt movers that stabds up to vibration.

Re: Best bulb choices for 2002 Highlander

Thought I would provide an update on this thread- passenger side Vosla 9012 +30 burned out today, 30 months and 50,000 miles after installation.Had purchased backup pair 30 months ago, so replacement was quick and easy.

Re: Best bulb choices for 2002 Highlander

Originally Posted by Qship1996

Thought I would provide an update on this thread- passenger side Vosla 9012 +30 burned out today, 30 months and 50,000 miles after installation.Had purchased backup pair 30 months ago, so replacement was quick and easy.

That seems quite reasonable.

Not sure how many miles/months since I put HIR1 and HIR2 in my Corolla's high and low beams, and similarly my friend's RX300 (he bought it 3 years ago and did the HIRx conversion not too long after), but we each have more than one vehicle and we don't drive entirely at night), but if they burned out right now I'd be plenty happy with the service I got out of them. (But I better order some spares right NOW because I don't have any I just have one each of a 9005 and a 9006 just to "get home" with.)

The Corolla's DRLs are deactivated; the RX300 has high beam DRLs, but the reduced voltage scarcely counts against the bulbs' life. (They do get a little 'browning' but that seems to go away after a long night drive with plenty of extended high beam use.)